พูดภาษาไทยได้ไม่ ? :)

After breakfast this morning, Cynthia and i were put on a “treasure hunt”. It was Bro Nat’s instructions to have us travel on our own by sorngtaew, to places, with specific things to do. While taking down instructions from Sis Pat, i was almost overwhelmed by the names of places already. So of course…when the list of food we had to get, came…i thought i’d faint. Haha (:

Here’s what we were instructed to do:

First, take a sorngtaew outside Nimanheimin Soi 3 to get to “Samkasat Peetee Patan”. We should only have to pay about 20baht per person for the sorngtaew ride. There, we were to walk around and of course, take pictures to show we were there, and what we saw.
Next, take a sorngtaew (this time also about 20baht per person) to “Talat Wararot” to buy lunch for the ERC staff!

1. kâao nieow (sticky rice) 50baht
2. sâi wua (sausage) 100baht
3. dtaeng moh, neung lu (1 whole watermelon)
4. nam prik noom (a kind of chili that’s eaten with fried pork skin) 50baht
5. kap moo (fried pork skin) 50baht

‘Best’ of all, all the above instructions came in… …(yes you probably guessed it)…Thai. Yes, even the quantity, price, directions, were all in Thai…Flagging down a sorngtaew and making sure we paid the reasonable fare was alright, but buying food for the ERC staff was when it became challenging since i had no idea what those items were before i bought them! Thank God for the kind aunties at the market who helped me when i asked them what a certain item was, and where i could get it

Well…we were told to get back to Payap University by 12.30pm, but because we were only willing to pay 80baht for two to get there, we went around with other passengers before we finally arrived at our destination…and got there at 12.35pm. Also, instead of sticky rice (“kâao nieow”), we got bloody rice (“kâao naeow”). As Christians we normally don’t eat blood or food with blood, but it was only after eating it we were told what it was…

What little Thai i know, was put to the test today…it was quite an adventurous experience, but definitely a meaningful one, for it had allowed me to immerse myself deeper into the culture of this nation.

outside samkasat

hello from เชียงใหม่! :)

9.20am: We arrived safely in Bangkok. Thank God checking out was quick, and we managed to smoothly and also very quickly checked-in for our next flight at 12.50pm (Thai time). Silly me forgot to take into consideration that we’re behind Singapore by an hour. As a result, we now have another 3 hours before our flight to Chiangmai. So here we are…having a drink at Black Canyon.

3.10pm: We’re sitting here at the airport waiting for Bro Nat to come pick us. The flight was a smooth one. i didn’t even pop another Novomin even though this morning’s one had already worn off. Hooray and thank God, i didn’t get sick (: We were a bit worried that Bro Nat had forgotten we were arriving today when we didn’t see him when we got out. We walked from the Domestic Arrival Hall to the International one, but he wasn’t there either. Prayed real hard that God would prompt Bro Nat to call us since i didn’t have his Thai no. in this phone. Praise God, he called us and informed us he’d be late because he had to pick poor Geoff from school. The school’s nurse had called to say dear Geoffrey bumped his head into a ping-pong table. Ouch.

Lighthouse BPC’s Building Site
Along the way to his home, Bro Nat took us to the site where Lighthouse BPC has begun its building project (: Looks like Cynthia and i will get to do some building while on this trip Here’s how it looks at the moment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time with friends!
Thank God for the opportunity to visit friends in Chiangmai once again. How i missed fellowship with them when i was back home in Singapore! It was great to see Aof, Parn, P’Apple and her mom, P’Gade, the very pregnant P’Nat (:)), Khaow Fang and Koi this evening. Bro Nat and Sis Pat so kindly invited them for a dinner party to welcome us (: We also had a little time chillax-ing at the nearby roti and coffee/tea shop a stone’s throw away from Bro Nat’s home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking forward to what God has in store for me during this short vacation away from home (:

time to end it all

Since the day we were told not to go, i’ve not been able to sense love and grace coming from them. Rather, all i’ve come to realise, or see, is how legalistic they can be. This is not said in a pique of anger, but with all honesty and all due respect. i sure wished things could have been done in a manner that was more edifying, for each time i sat before them, i’ve only felt judged, looked down upon and put down…perhaps for my age and how little they feel i know and have seen in life in comparison to them. This has brought great disappointment, for since i was young, they were people i respected and tried as much as possible to show appreciation to.

However, this has served as a precious reminder to me that in life, although it may be so easy for me to be legalistic, judgmental and harsh towards others, it’s not what God wants of me…and it breaks people down, rather than build them up. Therefore, even when i’m angry, or in difficult, disappointing and trying situations, showing grace to others, is a conscious choice which i will have to make.

This process has been emotionally, physically and mentally draining. It is an obstacle that has many times caused me to consider giving up serving Him altogether. i would have done what my flesh tells me to do, if not for how the Lord has been so gracious to me, comforting me through His Word and reminding me that following Him and serving Him is never easy…and no matter the circumstances, i ought to persevere for Him…for it shall be worth it all, when i see Him face-to-face.

This has taken up a lot, and definitely enough, of my time. i hope, and please, i pray, tonight’s the last time it will.

“远亲不如近邻”

Just before Precept class this evening, Auntie Rosalind had arranged to meet with me for a discussion and to go through some documents. However, forgetful me only realised i didn’t bring the necessary documents after i arrived at church with the car nicely parked, and i when i was about to find a seat in the fellowship hall! *Sigh* So…after a little consideration, i decided i’d head home to get it, despite the hassle because of the rain =(

However (again!), as i was reaching my carpark, i realised…i left my bag at church, brought only my wallet and hp and left my house keys behind!!! *faints* At that point, i really wanted to slap myself! What a scatterbrain i’ve been! And so i hoped hard that my Kor would still be at his home checking out the renovations, but to my horror, “NoOoOoOoOo”…his car was nowhere to be seen! Feeling at a loss, i parked the car, and prayed hard that my (1) neighbour had our house keys, and (2) that he’d be home. Well…he wasn’t home, but thankfully Kristina was, and i heaved a big sigh of relief when she told me, “yes! have! this morning i was just trying to open my door with it wondering why didn’t it fit…hahaha”. THANK GOD!!!

i know this may seem pretty trivial to most, but i’m really so thankful to God for hearing my cries for help at that point. God cares enough to help me, even when it’s something as small as forgetting my house keys (:

And this evening…i could totally relate to the chinese saying, “远亲不如近邻”

to go, or not to go?

The past two Bible study sessions with Yvonne was an affirmation of what i’ve read and learnt from a book i recently completed reading. It is clear from God’s Word that He wants the Gospel of Jesus to be preached to every corner of the world, and of course, that is possible only if people obey His command to“make disciples of every nations” (Matthew 28:18) and “be witnesses unto Him both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in all Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

So very often we hear of people saying, “i don’t feel called (yet/at all)” or “God has not made it clear to me that i must go” etc…but isn’t it consistent and clear enough from His Word that His command is to “GO therefore and make disciples of all nations…”? If it’s so clear in His Word, yet we do not obey…what then, exactly, are we waiting for, before we are clear enough?

Shouldn’t it be such that…unless God makes it clear to us that He wants us to stay, we ought to take His Word to many others in the world who have yet to hear of Him?

teaching kindergarten

By God’s providence, i’ve been going to work at the kindergarten to help prepare the kids for their graduation concert and 25th anniversary celebration tomorrow. On Wednesday, i got to relief-teach a class because a teacher went on MC. It was like going back to the days i taught my first Pre-Nursery class (and yes, with teacher Belinda assisting me!)…using the same teaching aids, sitting on that small pastel-coloured chair by the small whiteboard…calling the kids up one-by-one to match the pictures/words.

i love how my tuition kids (mostly my former kindergarten students) still call me “Miss Van”, but it’s different. It felt good being greeted “Miss Van” in a classroom once again.

After school ended, as i watched the kids say goodbye, board the bus, leave with their parents / guardians…i really missed being a teacher so so so terribly much. i wondered if someday, God would call me to His service through kids’ ministry, or maybe teach Bible stories in a kindergarten…or maybe send me to a place where He’d like me to start a kindergarten! (: oh well…so many maybeS.

3-in-1

i was at the airport this afternoon for the third time in the past 8 days, to see Pa off and drive the car home. Thank God for the chance to see him a little more this month, since other than this trip, he also made a special trip back last weekend to take us for family dinner at Tomy Roma’s before darling Darrell flew off for his overseas exercise. It’s great to have family time, and i realised, definitely even more so as we grow older. Perhaps because only then we learn to treasure our parents more…and each moment we have with them.

During Pa’s trip back this time, i appreciated being able to tell him a bit of how i felt while in the car alone with him. i know why he works so hard, i really do. He just wants to give us a comfortable and best life possible…but at the same time, i feel that we’re fine as we are now; we don’t have to be very rich…i just want to see more of my dad and not have him work so hard at his age.

Today, while at the departure gate, when Pa handed his passport and boarding pass to the security officer for checking, the latter was confused to be shown only 1 boarding pass, probably thinking that Mommy and i were flying too, since he was handed THREE passports…only to realize, they were actually all attached together!

Just proves how often he has to travel..? =/

i’m done with THL 641! :)

Even as i’m writing this, my heart’s still beating very fast and my hands quivering a little. i’m going through a mix of emotions, after having clicked on the “send” button for an email to Prof Tim. After three long months, the due date for all my Systematic Theology III assignments, will finally arrive tomorrow. With relief and yet a bit of anxiety, i can now declare, “I HAVE COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED ALL MY ASSIGNMENTS!”

i thank God for seeing me through my first course with ABTS. It’s been pretty tough for me as only a diploma-holder, but i thank God for how i have learned dependence on Him in my inadequacy. Truly, God’s strength is made perfect when i am weak.

i thank God for the much support He provided me through friends like Shelia dear, Nelson, Yvonne, Ryan, David and Shaun…who kindly proof-read my work, offered help in one way or another, and constantly encouraged me. Thank God, too, for Rev Ong who spent precious time talking theology with me, checked my work and gave feedback too! Thank God for ‘cher who called me immediately when i sent her an SOS sms. i’ll remember the reminders and precious practical lessons from her during that conversation. i thank God also for the many friends who constantly prayed for me and spurred me on through conversations or smses, as i worked on my assignments (:

i don’t know how the grading of my assignments will turn out, but i can only leave it in the hands of my All-knowing Father (:

For now…i can finally chill a little, and look forward to a wonderful relaxing family dinner when Pa returns tomorrow (: And of course…God-willing, Chiangmai, here i come! (“,)

dinner with Peter (:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25

Thank God for the privilege of having this brother-in-Christ, Peter, as our friend…and for the opportunity this evening to meet with him, to spend time with him and encourage him. Thank God for the gentlemen who initiated dinner with Peter, who always looks forward to fellowship with us, but due to circumstances, is not able to. i’m glad they got to pray with him, and encourage him after dinner too.

i don’t know about tomorrow

As i sang this hymn in my room tonight, i couldn’t hold back my tears and they just kept streaming down. i’m so tired, i feel like giving up and taking the easy way out sometimes. i’m human too, and the uncertainties of tomorrow bring fear to my heart, too. i’m starting to lose my focus, but it’s so hard to keep my eyes on Him and what He has called me to do. It makes me wonder…if i even heard Him right in the first place…

I don’t know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For i know what Jesus said.
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden’s getting lighter,
Ever cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don’t know about tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the One who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One who stands by me.
And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I’m covered with His blood.

Isaiah 40:30-31 says, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” And just as the last line of this song goes, “teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait…” i pray Lord, You’ll teach me to wait…